April 28, 2005, Thursday

Armando Benitez lumbered across the mostly empty Florida Marlins clubhouse devouring a jumbo hot dog. He stopped near his locker and took a bite but then vanished into another room to finish his supersize snack. When Benitez reappeared several...

May 9, 2004, Sunday

Armando Benitez agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Florida Marlins late last night, a move that prompted the team not to offer a deal to its former closer Braden Looper. Benitez had 21 saves last season for the Mets before being...

December 21, 2003, Sunday

The Mariners told Jeff Nelson they did not trade him to the Yankees because he criticized them for not making a major move in July. Nelson still suspects that was the reason, but the Mariners' general manager, Pat Gillick, denies it. ''Absolutely...

August 9, 2003, Saturday

In the theater of the bizarre that Yankee Stadium can be, few news items are truly shocking. But the one announced in the tunnel beside the home clubhouse last night qualifies: Jeff Nelson is a Yankee again, and Armando Benitez is a Seattle Mariner. ...

August 7, 2003, Thursday

Armando Benitez said he was not surprised that the Yankees unloaded him to the Seattle Mariners in what felt like a New York minute. But less than three actual minutes later, Benitez contended that everybody was surprised he had been traded. Some...

August 7, 2003, Thursday

Armando Benitez had just released his third intentional ball to Johnny Damon today when the burst of noise from Red Sox fans caused him to take a glimpse at the on-deck circle. Benitez looked to his left, probably hoping that no one noticed him...

July 27, 2003, Sunday

July 19, 2003, Saturday

Mets reliever John Franco today denied that he tried to undermine Armando Benitez, whom the Mets traded Wednesday to the Yankees. A report in today's Star-Ledger of Newark said that before the Benitez trade was completed, Bobby Valentine, the...

July 19, 2003, Saturday

Mariano Rivera was the winning pitcher June 22 at Shea Stadium, when Armando Benitez walked four Yankees in the ninth inning to blow a save for the Mets. Rivera had always thought of Benitez as an aggressive pitcher, and his failure was puzzling. ...